Continuous miner having pivotally mounted head



Feb. 16, 1965 J. B. LONG ETAL 3,159,796

CONTINUOUS MINER HAVING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED HEAD ATTORNEY 5 Feb. 16, 1965 .1. B. LONG ETAL 3,169,796

coNTINuous MINER HAVING PIvoTALLY MOUNTED HEAD 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25. 1961 glu rNvENToRs L/o/-M/ oA/G ATTORNEYS Feb. 16, 1965 3,169,796

CONTINUOUS MINER HAVING PIvoTALLY MOUNTED HEAD J. B. LONG ETAL 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 25. 1961 ATTORNEY;

JOHN B. oA/c1 Al. EN BLA/R 3%@ @ww Feb. 16, 1965 .1.5. LONG ETAL 3,159,796

CONTINUOUS MINER HAVING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED HEAD 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 25, 1961 WMN BBN QN mwN um O n...

Q1 www INVENTORS JOHN B. oA/ci I ALLE/v Af. [3L/HR www@ ATTORNEY;

Feb. I6, 1965 .1. B. LONG ETAL 3,169,796

CONTINUOUS MINER HAVING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED HEAD 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 25. 1 961 ALLEN /VBL/a/R l l Ildllzhmlalluh "HN" "Jillihlll nllnllll. l

Feb. 16, 1965 J. B. LONG ETAL 3,169,796

CONTINUOUS MINER HAVING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED HEAD Filed April 25. 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 6- Ey l2.

INV ENT ORS JoH/v 5. oA/G AIL/EN /V. 5L n/R ATroRNEYj S sheets-sheet 7 INVENTORS ATTORNEYJ J. B. LONG ETAL Feb. 16, v1965 coNTINuous MINER HAVING PIvoTALLY MOUNTED HEAD Filed April 25. 1961 JOHN B. oA/G 4u EN /V 2A/R HJ MQ.

CONTINUOUS MINER-HAVING PIvoTALLY MOUNTED HEAD Filed April 25. 1961 Feb. 16, 1965 J. B. LONG ETAL 8 Sheets-Sheet `8 ..3 www nUvENTo-Rsl c/oH/v 5. ONG

ATrojl ILLE/VAK BLA/R BY MM United States Patent O 3,169,7@6 CNTlNUUS MlNER HAWNG llVTALLY l MUNTED HEAD John B. Long, Gai( Hill, and Allen N. Blair, Beckley,

W. Va., designers to Marmon-Herrington Company, Inc., Indianapolis, End., a corporation of indiana Filed Apr. Z5, 1961, Ser. No. 105,394

10 Claims. (Cl. 239-31) This invention relates to improvements in continuous miners. v

The continuous miner herein shown and described has been designed primarily for use in mining thin coal seams of from 24 inches to 42 inches, although `it will be readily understood that the use thereof is not so limited.

Conventional mobile crawier mounted continuous miners do not adequately provide for a continuous mining` operation in thin seams', the same applying thrust based on Weights from 40 to 60 tons and therefore being virtually unmanageable and unserviceable when crowded into a thin seam. Maximum thrust is extremely important in providing a satisfactory continuous mining operation and, in orderV to provide for maximum thrust without unmanageable bulk and weight, the thrust must be applied independently of the weight and bulk of the machine. One'of the primary objects and advantagesof our invention is therefore to provide ak continuous miner that will apply maximum thrust Vindependently of the Weight and bulk of the miner.

-A further object is the provision of a miner that will mine a high percentage of optimum size material, rather y 1 than a high percentage of slack material.

A `further Objectis the provision of a continuousl miner that may be remotely driven and manipulated and provide Vmaximum tonnage per man hour.

AV further object is the provision of a continuous miner .-having a novel conveying means whereby the mined ma- 1 SS Patented Feb. 16, l965 Sad FIG. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional View taken substantially on the line 6-6 of FIG. 2.

FiG. 7 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially on the line '7-7 of FIG. 2. y v

FIG. 8 is-an enlarged sectional View taken substantially on the line 3 8 of FlG. 2. g FlG. 9 is a top plan View of lthe bridge'conveyor of the continuous miner. A

FIG. l0 is a side View of lthe bridge conveyor of the continuous miner.

FIG; 1lk is an enlarged sectional View tially on the line lll- 1l of FIG. 9. zV

FIG. l2 is a diagrammatic View of the hydraulic sys'- tem of mycontinuous miner.

taken substan- FIG. 13 is a somewhat diagrammatic View through a cut of the miner. .f FlGS. 14 and l5 are somewhat diagrammatic Views illustrating the steps of Aminingwith my continuous miner;

` In the drawings,wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention; and wherein similar reference characters designate corre= spending parts throughoutv the several views, the letter A may generally designate the miner, which includes a frame B; cutting means C; conveyingfmeans D;front guide meansV E; rear guide means F; miner advancing and retracting means G; power means H; a bridge conveyor-J which' includes-base means K, pivot means L,

terialmay be conveyed from the mine face,* such novel conveying means'including a provision for the continuous conveying of theV mined material during the mining oper- A further Objectis the provision of a vcontinuous miner having improved advancing` and retracting means for the application of maximum thrust thereto, including assoalong a predetermined'path. u n A A yfurther object is the provision ofa continuous miner c'iated guide means whereby -the miner may be driven having novel guide means for selective miningat a pref. determined level'. j j i v v A further object is the provision of a continuous miner having animpro-ved interconnectionbetween the minerV conveying frame M, conveying means N, conveyoradvancing and retracting means 0, conveyor transverse positioning means P and conveyor Vanchoring means Q; andahydraulicsystemR.

lt is to be noted that the-various conduits; of hydraulic circuitry have been `omitted in all `views except those diagrammatically illustrating 'such circuitry, inasmuch a's Y theseV conduits would serve to further .complicate 'and render indistinctstructural characteristics. j

.The framejB .preferably includesa bottom` plate 2t?, Y a rear plate 3?.'ll,-and` afront plate-22, the ,plates 2i), 2l

and 22 being interconnectedto define a'chamiber 24'. within which the Ipower means- H andvariousother'parts are housed. Alcover26 may Ibeprovidedover thel chamber 2t?, adjacent the cutting'kmeans; C, providing-afreinforced surface whichslidably engages the Vmine door,l

and the conveyor to which the mined material is conveyed.

A further object isthe provision of a continuous miner having improved .cutting means that mayfbeverticallv and angularly Vadjusted according tothe sizeof the bit used, and' to provide an angular cut, if desired.

Other objectsand advantagsof theinvention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in'connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a portion of this specification, and in which drawings:

FIG. l is a somewhatl diagrammatic top plan View of our improvedgcontinuous miner and bridge conveyor..

FIG. 2 is atop planview of the miner, with the top'v thereof removed to disclose preferred detaiis.. e FG. 3 is a longitudinalsectional .View ofthe miner,

taken substantially on the line 3 3 of FIG. V2. w

FIG. 4 is .a longitudinal sectional Viewv of the miner V taken substantially on lthe linel 4*-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG.5 is an end View of thefminer, with parts'v thereof removed todis'close preferred details.

' scribed.V .1 l

being provided at'the `outermost,end with a sleev'ej34. The sleeve 34 forms a part ofthe pivot :means L,; aslfwill thereto' a shaft 35 which of the conveying means D, vas will be subsequently 1de- Secured to plateZ-Zis a-reinforcingplate 49. rThe reinforcing plate il is provided with a plurality of slots 4t2 Within which are lslidablyl received` the shank-sV of bolts 43 whichsecure the plate 4i) to the plate `22'. Se#

curedfto the plate Eiland extending outwardlytherefrom, opposite `tothe plate 22T,V are thelovverchain guide lug 46, the conveyor chain l mer bar 48. The `slots vi2v permit ve-rtical`adjustment of these elementsgso that the'fbottom trimmer bar `4S lies-adjacent thep`l'loor, theV conveyorkpan'is main# tained in juxtaposition for'receijvirigw the mined material,

and` the chain guide lugv ddmaintains theconveying -means Din lproper positionuwithrespect to theQ-fconveyor chain panffor movement Vof `theffmined material there-4 along.` The ycor'iveyor chain'pan.47 is openat the forward end'tlthereof, adjacentthe cutting means C. The

y Secured`-to-the side'plate22f opposite the endvofV the -frameB fromfthe cutting means` C,..,Hre a plurality'of` reinforced supporting platesll, 31 and'SZ, the plate 30 pan 4'/ andthe bottom trimpan 47 is 'provided with a side plate 52 for thev greater portion of the frame B, forming a channel'SS' through which the mined material may be moved along the length of the frame B and onto the bridge conveyor l, It will be noted Vthat the side plate 52 serves to store mined material Within the chamber 53 during the withdrawal of the frame B from the mine face and thereby provides a substantially continuous owofmaterial to the bridge conveyor J. The bottom trimmer 48 is provided with a plurality of serrations54, forming a saw-tooth edge adja- 'cent the cutting means'C, for a purpose to be subsequently described.

Secured tothe `plate'22 by a reinforcing ange 55, and

extending outwardly from the chamber 24, is an upper trimmer bar 56 and an upper chain guide 57. The upper trimmer bar 56 is provided with a plurality of serrations 58 that form a saw-tooth edge which cooperates with the `upon plate by interconnection with the pivot plates V97.

The cylinder 96 includes a shaft 98 that is rigidly secured to the bracket 92 by means ofpin 99.

As will be seien from FIG. 6, the wheel 94 may be lowered to substantially Within the chamber 24 vand raised by the hydraulic cylinder 96m the desired height for abutment against the mine roof 'in guiding Vthe cutting means C. Y H A support 10) is secured to the -plate`21, extending out- Wardly therefrom, Without the chamber 24, providing a support for the rear guide means F and miner advancing Y and retracting means G. Y

The rear guide means F 'preferably includes a pairV of parallel side plates 102 and 103 secured to the support cutting means C, as will be subsequently described. The

vupper chain guide 57 cooperates with the conveying means D in supporting the upper reach thereof.

. A headlight 60 may be secured to the plate 21 anda Yheadlight 61 secured to theside plate 52 of the conveyor chain pan 47 for illuminating purposes. y

Cutting means C preferably includes a bearing housing 63 that is suitably supported within the chamber 24, such as by a plurality of braces 65, adjacent the opposite end v ,of the frame B from the' pivot sleeve 34. The bearing housing 63 supports a shaft 67 having at one end thereof a sprocket V68 about which is entrained a'drive chain 69 interconnected with the powermeans I-Las Will be subsequently described. The shaft 67 is rotated by the sprocket 68,`through interconnection With the drive 'chain 69.... A sprocket 70 is'secured to the shaft 67, outwardly ot the chamber 24 and injuxtaposition with respectV to the conveyor chain pan 47 to drive the conveying means D. A cutting head'whi'ch may comprise a cutting drum 72 is mounted upon shaft 67, extending4 outwardly beyond the frame Band 'the upperand` lower `trimming bars 56 and y48.l The 'cuttingndrum 72 is removably secured to the Y shaft 67 by lock nut'74 and ispr'ovided Witha plurality of removable bits 75 which engage the mine face. 1

. The conveying meansD preferably includes achain 80 having a plurality of vili'ghts 81 spaced therealong, ,the

supported upon the shaft 35 by bearingsjo so"'that the the-,cutting 'means C, it will be seen that'lvvev havepro'vided is'iotated throughintercon-v nectionwith the sprocket 70 attached .to the shaft 67 of' lili); parallel brackets 194 and 135 hingedly secured to vthe plates 102and193 by means of pin 106, and a wheel 107 rotatably supportedbetweenthe brackets 104 and 195 by axle 10S. The brackets V1(1-1 and 195 arerespec-y tivelyA provided with upstanding ear portions 109 and 110. The support ltltlis provided with a pair of upstanding platesl 111 andV 112. '.Means Vfor pivotally moving the Y Wheel with respect to the'platesj1ll2 and 103 preferably comprises a hydraulic cylinder llpivotally secured between the plates 111 and 1 12`by pin 114, the cylinder 113 having a shaft 1 15 that is pivotallyattached between the ear portions 199 vand 110 by pin 116. lt will thus be seen that byrnanipulation of the hydraulic cylinder 113,'

Vthe Wheel 16W may be raised or lowered with respect tothe frame B, about the pin 1 (96. It will be notedv that the i support 100 and the plates .1M and 103 provide a lever for theewheel1tl7about the sk id shoe 28 which abuts a fulcrum, so that considerable pressure maybe exerted to guide the cutting means C.

In continuous miners of this type, the rotation of the cutting drum 7 2 acts to raise the cutting drum andthe Weight of the Vmachine has been utilizedY in `the Vpast ,to

maintainV proper cutting contact. However, by use 'of Vthe 'leverfand fulcrum constructionV of our invention we have beenable to reduce the bulk and weight 'and still maintain proper cutting contact. .'In usuale'straight line cutting vvithfour continuous miner the Wheels 94 ar'ejraisedf' Y 'i v'into Contact Withthe root, providing astabilizing :action for the frame VB and' skid'shoe'ZS, andthe Wheel'l 197 'is' lowered'into contact' with the mine" tloo'r',v acting las a lever about the fulcr'um (st lpportingY means .for the' miner, usuallythe mine oor) to' guidethe cutting means in a` straight'lineilf ya 'downwardlyangled cut" is desired,

doLvnWard pressure is exertedon the VWheel 1t7,.by power actuatedV means which may' comprise cylinder 113, theleverageabout'the fulcrurn ca'uses'depressionot the Y cutting means C.y When an upward'ly'angled cnt isde-v -sired, the wheel 107 is'raised and the cutting action of conveyingl means forthe continuous miner that is intimate; 'v

1y correlated tothe cutting means thereof.A

The-front guide'means VE` andrea'r guidel means 'F cooperate to vertically and, angularly guide the cutting means C; In reality, the' rear guide means F is suhicient to Vguide the cutting meansC, however, the: iront guide means E has been included'and is utilized to insurel the correct ver- 'tical and'angularadjustrnent of the cutting means C Wit respect to the mine roof.

plate 20,5'within' the chamber 24;,apair of mounting plates 90 9 1 secured respectivelyto the plates "88 and -89 extending ,outwardlyY from the; chamber 24, beyond the 'plate21;' a bracket p'ivotally'securedy to .'the plates 9i) i, and'91 byimeans of piu 93, Wheels 94 being ,rotatably se Cured to thev bracket 92 by'm eans of axle 95and means for positioning the Wheels-94-with respect to .the frame B includingia hydraulic 'cylinder 96,"pivo'tally supported 65 The frontguide means E preferably includes a pair of spaced apart supportingfplates S8 Vand 89 securedto the means`r12l, and guide bracket means movementof the anchor meansf12tl.

the'cuttingmeans C, whichjconstantly exerts anup'wardforce byits rotation, willraise the v"cuttingrnear'isCto its desired upwardly,y inclined angle. f

We-have thus provided anovelguide-means wherein the frame B abuts a ulcrum; the support 165i and brackets 102 and 103 and' cuttingm'eans C constitute arms of the `lever extending'fto opposite side'sfot 'the 'frame Brand, means, which we, have shown as the 'cylinder' 113, for the application 'of i a levera'g'veforceV adjacent the ends yof brackets 1tl2nand'1tl3 forti` tilting the lever'thus provided aboutitsfulcrum. 1i

' The miner advancing and retractin'g means G preferably V includes Aancho1'-rn eans 120'Which Vprovide baseV points "for movement of theV miner A; means121 for advancing and retracting the miner'A with Vrespef'ztt'o 'thefanchor hydraulic rjacks` V1*2 t"and 125 mountedrespectively upon skid brackets 126 and 127, each/jack having a shaft 123 to which is secured a plate 129.: -These packs124 and 125 arecommonlyreferredto in' Vthe'a'rt as walking'jacks, thebases 126 and 127 being designedto abutagainst the vr122 Vfor guiding The anchormeans preferably'includes" i mine floor and the plates 129 being pivotally secured upon the shafts 12S so that they may abut against and follow the contour of the mine roof.

The means 121 for advancing and retracting the anchor means 126 with respect to the frame B preferably comprises a pair of hydraulic cylinders 136 and 131 that are respectively pivotally attached at one end thereof by brackets 132 and 133 to the support 100, and are respectively attached at the other end thereof to the jacks 124 and 125. The interconnection of the jacks 124 and 125 with their respective cylinders 136 and 131 is shown in FIG. 8. In this connection, the jacks are each provided with a pair of spaced apart bracket plates 134 and 135 with a -pin 136 provided extending therebetween. A selfaligningvbushing 137 is supported upon the pin 136 in a spaced relationship with respect to plates 134 and 135 by spacers 133 and 139. The hydraulic cylinders 131i and 131 are each provided with a sleeve 141) within which is received a socket 1ct-1 which interfits about the self-aligning bushing 137. Retaining ring 142 secures the socket 141 within the sleeve 149. Such interconnection of the cylinders 1311 and 131 with the jacks 124 and 125 permits a limited angular vertical movement of the hydraulic cylinders 130 and 131 with respect to their respective jacks 124 and 125, such as will occur when the cutting means C operates other than in ahorizontal plane. l

The guide bracket means 122 for guiding movement of the anchor means 121i is best shown in FIG. 2, and coinprises guide frame means 145, support means 147, and radius guide rod means 148.

The guide frame means 145 preferably includes arched guide plates 155, 151, 152 and 153. The plates 150 and 151 define an elongated slideway 155 which receives, in sliding engagement thereweith, the jack 124i; and lthe plates 152 and 153 define-a slideway 157 within whichV 175. The pump 176 is suitably interconnected withink the hydraulic system R, as will be subsequently described. The transmission 177 is provided with a drive sprocket 180 about which is entrained the drive chain 69. The sprocket 15) provides the driving power'for the drive chain 69.

The base means K of the bridge ,conveyor I is of general segmental shape and preferably includes a base plate 185, a top plate 156, side plate 187, and suitable cross braces 19th A bracket 192 may be provided to one side of the base frame K, the bracket 192 having openings 193 and 194 for respective mounting of the conveyor advancing and'retracting means O and conveyor transverse positioning means P, as will be subsequently described.

The cover plate 186 is provided with a depressed portion 115 for receiving the conveying means N in juxtaposition with respect to the conveying means D of the frame B for the conveying of material mined onto the bridge conveyor J. Bearings 197 and 198 are each preferably supported upon an upper track 250 and a lower track 2,01 within the base frame J. The bearings 197 and 198 are slidably supported lupon their respective tracks and are movable along the tracks by threaded shaft interconnections 2115. The bearings 19'7`and 19S lsupport an idler roller 2% having a centrally disposed sprocket 2&7 about which may be entrained the chain of a chain iiight conveyor which may comprise vthe conveying means N. Adjustability is provided by the sliding of the bearings 197 and 153 upon their respective tracks so that slack may be taken out'ofthe conveying chain. A suitable conduit, ,such as the conduit 228 of the bearing ,198 may be provided leading to the exterior of the base frame K for lubricationof the bearings, or openings 209 of the slideways 155 and 157; and end plates 154 and 155 each end of the slideways 155 and 157;A

As shown in FIG. l, the guide plate 150 is arched radially `from the pivot means L at a radius W; the plate 151 arched radially frornthe. pivoty means L at a radius X; the plate 152V arched radially from the pivot means L The support means 147 for the guideframe meansld preferably includes aplurality of springs 167 interconnecting the end plate 134 to thesupport 1111i. rFliese :springs 157 are of substantially heavy construction and will horizontally support the guide frame means 145 with frespect to the frame B. The springs 167 are provided, 1

rather than a rigidconnection,` in order to serve as a lshock absorbing medium during advancement and retraction of the jacks 124 and l125 Vwithin their respective slideways 155 and 157.A Y Y j v Radius rod means 1d8rlikewise serves .to support the guide frame means 145 in horizontally extending position from the frame B and preferably comprises a first rod 17u secured tothe frame B, asecond rod 171` secured tothe guide frame means 145, and spring means172 interconinterconnecting the guide plates 159, .151, 1.52 and 153 atf having a cover plate 21`tL`suchas thatshownfadjacent the bearing197 in FG. 11;` maybe providedforlubrication ofthe bearings-Bracket 1592has been omitted in FIG. 10 in order to showstructure'that would otherwise K be obscured thereby.

' bolts 223. Mounted upon `the plate 222, and extending necting the rods 170 and 171. This radius rod'means 148serves tol position the slideways'155 and 157 radially fromy the pivot means L. -The spring mounting' means 172 is provided to act 'as a shock absorber between the] guide frame means 145 and frame B upon advancement' and retraction of the jacks124 andA 125 within their respective slideways 155 and`157.

A suitable batiie212 may be 'provided-extending ver-` ticallyv upwardly from the base means K, opposite the side of `the base means ii from which the frame B extends,

providing astop for the mined material vas it is discharged from the conveying means D of the frame B to maintain it in juxtaposition for receipt upon the conveying means -N of the bridge conveyor I. The baiile 212 is provided with a pivotal'mounting 214 upon thebase'rneans K; a

bracket 215 is secured to the baiiie 212 and provides a mount for attachment of the shaft 216 'of a hydraulic cylinder 217 that is pivotally mounted as at ,218 upona bracket 219 secured to the conveying frame M of the bridge conveyor'l. Thus, Aas the frame B moves about the plvotf means L, tothe position as shown inFlG. l5,

hydraulicV cylinder Q17 maybe actuated,drawing baffle 212 f arcuately away from the base means K, so that the bafiie 212 does not interfere with movement of the frame Pivot means L preferably comprises a cup-like.bracket`l 221) that is welded or otherwise secured'vtothe cover plate A of the base frame means K, havinga depression` 221 `w1tlun which is received a kplate 222 that is 'welded or otherwise secured within `the depression 221l such as by vertically upwardly therefrom is a shaft 225. The shaft 225 is'jprovided with suitable `ridges 227 fo-r receiving a self-aligning bushing 228m properlpositionV thereupon, a retaining `plate 229 beingsecured to thetop of 1 225`such as by means'of bolt 231i retainingthe self-alignlng bushing 223 in )juxtaposition upon the fshaft 225.

Sleevef-t of the plate tiis provided witha socket portion V232 which is received about'the self-aligning bushingA the shaftN 1 228, and maintained in position Within the sleeve 34 by retaining ring 233. This construction provides for free pivotal movement of the sleeve 34 about the shaft 225, the adjoining structure being somewhat in the nature of a universal joint providing for the compensation of a degree of vertical, horizontal, and angular misalignment.

The conveying frame Maud itsV associated conveying meansN are preferably a modiiied form of that disclosed in Patent No. 2,747,721, dated May 29, 1956, of which John B. Long ,and Richard I. Frye are patentees. The same includes side frames 235 and 236` t-hat may be convergently angled as at 237 adjacent the base means K; and a bottom plate 238 upon which may be received conveying means N, the side frames 235 and 235 and the base plate 23S deiining an elongated channel 24d through Yvided for a step-by-step advancing of the base means K Y erence characters with a prime character have therefore been applied. This conveyor transverse positioning means P is utilized for lateral movement of the .base frame K, the operation thereof being the same as that previously described with respect to the conveyor advancing and which the material may be conveyed from the base means Y K to the main or room conveyor 242.- The discharge Vend 243 of the bridge conveyor I may be mounted upon a carriage 245, 'as disclosed in the previously mentioned Patent No. 2,747,721. The conveying means N may be of any suitable typejsuch as the chain and ilight disclosed in the previously mentioned Patent No. 2,747,72l, or' of the'belt type, the receiving end thereof being entrained about the idler roller 296 of the base means K, with the conveying reach thereof passing through the depression 195 in the base means K, and along the conveying frame means M to appropriately discharge at the end 243 of the conveying frame M. Bridge conveyor I will include a conventional power source and supply (not shown) for driving the conveying means N.

The conveying frame M is, preferably rigidly secured to 'the base means K, and for all intents and purposes the base meansK may be considered a portion of the bridge A The conveyor advancing and retractingrmeans O preferably comprises a hydraulic cylinder `24138 that` isY at tached at one end there'o'ffbyjbracket 249` to the bracket 192 of the basepmeansK, and isyattached at the otherl provided 'withvsprings-.Zd which aref'anchored Yto the y Ietracting means O.Y Y A It will be noted that by simultaneous activation of the means O and P, each being extended to the desired degree, that the base frame K may beV angulariy moved. After the desired angular movement has been reached and jacks 25l'and 25o retracted, springs 254, 255, 254 and '255' will act to realign jacks 25d and 25hC with bracket The conveyor anchoring means Q' preferably includes a hydraulic jack ZSSsecured yto the conveying frame M of the bridge conveyor l, adiacent thebase means K, the jack 253 having a ybase 259 and a top platevZt. ln operation, the base means -K isV positioned Within the .mine by means of the conveyor and retracting means O Y and conveyorvtransverse positioning means P, and the jack 258 extended, with the base 259 thereof in contact with the mine Vfloor and the top plate 25S thereof in contact-With the mine roof. When the jackl is so positionedA it will securelyanchor the lbase means Kin its desired position for movement of the frame B about the pivot means L.

The'hydraulic system 'RY' preferablyV inc udes hydraulic ftuid supply tank 265, hydraulic pump 176, three speed control valve action means 266, and control valve banks 257 and 25S. The tank 265 may be of anyV con- 'ventional type'for storage of hydraulic LVfluid and is pref- K erablyY mounted Within the chamber 24 ofthe frame yB. ,Pumpr176 is a conventional tandem-,type gear pump having one-half' inch gear' sections '2,79' and v2771 and p three-quarter gear sections 2737and7274, Vall of which bracket 192 Vof the base means K and the pl-ater252 being. i

.provided with lsprings 255which are anchored tothe jack-250. jlThefhyd-raulic cylinder Zlids thus permitted n.

ivotal movement Withrespect tothe jack-Zdiiand Athe ,bracket 192, such-as may occurunderfpressurewhen Y Vconveyor. advancingl and retracting meansO 'and P KVare simultaneously operated, and whenthepr'essure'is lreleased the springs 254 and 255 will realign the cylvand bracket-192, Vin the position shown yin thedravvings; VVVThe jack 25@ may be of construction identical to that :of the jacks 124 and 125 previously disclosed, andthe `*pivotal interconnection of theV jack` 25@ to the hydraulic r5l) inderf248 in juxtaposition with respect to the jack 25d. l

sections are driven ,byV arsingle shaft 275 of themotor 175. Fluid supplylines 277Y and 27% are provided leadfrom the tank 2d5 to theftandernV pump lft.Y ,Thegthree speed control valve means 26o preferably includes larpair of high volume iioW valves V281 andZSZ 'interconnected for'simultaneousactuation by platefldli; i

low volume new valves 235 and 25e interconnected for simultaneous actuation'by'plate 2ST; anda control lever 2%, As shown in FIG. '12, the lever 2% is in neutral,

which Willprovide high volumeV iiow of iluidtoV the valve` banks 267 KVand 26S. In such position, `iiuidwill orwr' 'from the pump [sections 27d, 271,* 273and ZM'through :'cyiinder 248 is Apreferably of the same type that has Y vbeen previously disclosed vWith respect to the hydraulic cylinders 136 and 131the'same beingshown inrFG. 8.

their respective conduits 2er, 292.293,21@ 294 reihen Theiiuid iiow from valve 231 is conveyedV through conduit 295 respective valves'', 281, and 2&2.

i to join'the ,flovfof iiuid through valve Zithe joined Theconveyor advancing and v'retr'acting means O will be;`

, vutilized for linear movement of thefbase means K. In such Vf;operation,'the jaclr25 will be raisedV so that thelovver .-portionthereofvislin contact Twith the mine'oor andV the -upper portion thereof in contact Withthe mine roof, i

and thehydrauiic cylinder 248'extended, Which will ad- Yvance the base means K. After it has Vbeen advanced through one stroke' of the hydraulic `cylinder 24S,y and the Vevent it is desiredV to .further advance therbase Y. Vmeans K,.the roof contacting'portion of theojack 256 islowered, the hydraulic cylinder: ZSVIetractedfvt/Vhich draws thel jack 25d'toward the VbaserrneansK,fthe jackV Y T250 actuated sothat thebase thereof is in contact. With' :the mine floor and thefupper portion thereofAin-contactl With the mineV roof, *andy the hydraulic cylinder les again extended. Retraction, of the base'means Willfbej'by the 'rever'seactiom .as is obvious. We Vhave thus'pro-' `flow passing through conduit 2% to valve bank 267;'

and the ow of 4fluidthrough valve` 282 passing through f conduit 293 to join'rthe flow of huid throughV valve 285,A

the joined iiow of iiuid passingthrough conduit 299 to ,valveV bank 268. '.This joint Lfiovvofuid provides arhigh speed flowVV tothe valve banks 267 and 25S. Y

VVthenit is desired to provide a medium volume of hydraulic iiovvfthe lever'ZQG-isVV moved tov/ard'the valves 28i5fand' 285 (tof the :right in'Y 1116.127). SuchY movement of theleve'iZi/iti' permits continuedriiowfof duid through valves 281 and 2?,-2,; ,through conduits 295 and 2%, iYa'rndrthrough conduits 2%' and299f to the respective valve VEbanks267 268... In thisA position, however, the valves l 285` andrrSo-,areclosed so that ltiui'd supplied thereto @through theconduits V29ifand 292frtloyvs through con-1,`

duits sae and ser baekm the entrees; y 'Y tions 316, 317, 31S,

arent/:9e

When it is desired to operate the various mechanism at low speed, the lever 231i? is moved toward the valves 281 and 282 (to the left in FlG. l2). ln such position, low volume huid liows through the conduits 291 and 292 into valves 235 and 23e, passes through conduits 2% and 299 into the respective valve banks 2u? and 268, and the flow of lluid through conduits 233 and 294, to thev valves 281 and 282, is diverted'through conduits 363 and 35114 and thence through conduits 3%@ and Sill, back to the tank 265.

Valve banks 267 and 26S are each provided with conventional relief valves and have respective conduits 337 and 39S for dumping huid back to the tank 265m the event of over-load and when all of the fluid flow'into the valve banks'is not required for actuation of the desired mechanism. k Y

Valve bank 267 is provided with sections 319, 311, 312, 3&3, 314, and 315 that may be individually actuated; and valve bank section 253 is provided with sec- 319, 32), 321, and 322 thatmay be individually actuated. i

Valve bank section 319 is provided with a pair of conduits 325 and 32.5 for actuation of the rear guide cylinder 113; valve bank section 311 is provided with conduits 327, and 32? for the actuation of the baffle cylinder 17'; valve bank section 312 is provided with conduits 329 and 33d for actuation of the transverse positioning cylinder 24S', valve bank section 313 is provided with conduits 331 and 332 for actuation of the advancing and'retracting cylinder 24; valve bank sec- :tion 31:5 is provided with conduits 333 and 334 for actuation of the advancing and retracting cylinder 131; and valve bank section 31S is provided with conduits 33S and 335 for actuation of the advancing and retracting cylinder 13u.

vinsofar as valve bank 25S is concerned, valve bank section 316 is provided with conduits 337 and 33S for,Y actuating of the cylinder which actuates the overload ciutchlnot shown) in the main drive transmission 177 for 'activating and deactivating chain drive chain 69;

with conduits-339 guide `cylinder 95; with conduits`341 valve bank` section 317 is provided and 3659 for actuation of the front valve bank section'318 is provided and 342;, for actuation'of the anchor cylinder 25S; valve banksection 3191s provided with conduits 343 and'ltd for actuation of the jack 259'; valve bank section32ll actuation of the anchor cylinder 25u; valve bank section 311i is provided with conduits 3517 and 343 for actuation of the anchor 125; and valve bank section 322 l@ Jack 124 is then actuated so that the base thereof is in contact with the mine oor and the top plate thereof in contact with the mine roof, and the cylinder 131) is eX- tended. This will serve to move the frame B about pivot means L (in a counterclockwise direction as shown lin the drawings). lack 125 is then actuated so that the base thereof is in contact with the mine floor and the top plate thereof in contact with the mine roof, and jack 124 simultaneously deactivated, lowering the top plate 129 from the anchored position against the mine roof; the cylinder 13u is then retracted and the cylinder 131 extended. The jack 1214 is then again actuated, placing the base in forced abutment with the mine floor and the top plate thereof in forced abutment with the mine roof; thejack 125 simultaneously lowered, so that the top plate thereof is out of forced contact with the mine roof; and

the cylinder 13d is again extended, simultaneous with theV retraction of cylinder 131. This procedure, being a step- Vby-stepy advance of the base frame B about the pivot means L is repeated until the frame B has completed substantially a one hundred and eighty degree movement or sweep about the pivot means L.

After a complete one hundred and eighty degree of the i frame Bwith respect-to the pivot means L has been acsubstantially equal to the radius or diameter of the cutting Y means C, 'dependent upon the hardness of the material being mined. As shown in FIG. 13 the' advance has been substantially equal to the diameter ofthe cutting means C, and as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 the advancev lias'been substantially equal to the radius ofthe cutting means C. For instance, if the diameter of the cutting drum is twenty-Seven inches, movement of the 'pivot means L forward'should be substantially 'either thirteen anda half inches or twenty-seven inches, asy required. As is'shown in FIG. 13, the advance of a distance substantially equalto the diameter of the cutting means C isprovided with a pair of `conduits'34i5 and`345 for is provided with conduits 34u and 3S0for actuation of" Y the jack 124.-

lt will thus be' seen Vthat wehaye provided: for the individual actuation of the various hydraulic *mechanisml of our invention and have Vfurther provided that such mechanism may he operated at either alow speed, medium speed on high speed. y Y l I n the `operation of the miner A, the frameB and bridge conveyor J are preferably separately conveyed to a position adjacent thearea thatis to be mined, and then the'v frame B connected to thebasev means K, at the pivot means L, the discharge end 243 of the .bridge conveyor positioned for discharge onto a room conveyor 242, the

conveyor advancing and retracting means G and conveyor normal to the bridge conveyor l, as shown in FIG. 1.-

will leave upper ridges 355 and lower ridges 356 projecttially --break these ridges away from the seam andthe material thus broken will` be scooped through the` opening Si) and into Contact with the conveying means D.V

This openingfu will` likewise scoop vup any mined material that may have beenv cut by Athe cutting' means C and not directly discharged into contact withthe conveying means D'.l

As shown .in FIGS. 14 and l5, the miner isn-:advanced substantially. linearly, with the pivotmeans `Lbeing dis-y posed lat the spaced centersV 357 yfor each lsweep ofthe frame B until the de siredV depth ofthe room 353 hasfbeen jmine'd. The arcuate dot and'rdash lines 359 Vof1FlGS.

' 14 and l5 indicate the forward reach of the cutting means l. C during every othersweep'of the frame* B," and ythe 'dottedlines 369 indicate the future sweeps of theforward reach of the cutting means C.

ing means P are actuatedto position the pivot means Lin the desired location,` the stepsofwhich are indicated at the positioasssz muros. 14 and 15. F1o. 14 infamesk f the mining ofv an advanced breakthrough 354 and FlG.V 1,5 themining of a rearward breakthrough 355.

Various changes may be made tothe form' of invention herein lshown and describedand thetmethod of use thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention or-the scope of the following claims.V

about said pivot means.

about its fulcrum.' l

We claim: l. `In a continuous miner mounted on supporting means,

-the combination of base means, a longitudinally extending frame, pivot means pivotally interconnectnig said frame with said oase means, cutting means mounted upon said v means, said frame, support means and cutting means cornprising va lever and the means for supporting said miner lcomprising a fulcrum for said lever, said frame abutting the fulcrurn of said lever, said support means and said cutting means constituting arms of said lever extending to opposite sides of said frame, said guide means including means secured tos'aid support means adjacent the end thereof laterally extendant from said frame for the application of a force adjacent the end of saidsupport means laterally extendant from said frame, the force of said means being applicable for the guiding and tilting of said lever about its fulcrum, and advancing and retracting means mounted vupon said frame for moving said frame V2. The combination las specified in claim 1 wherein xsaid means secured to said support ,meansY adjacent the end thereof laterally extendant from said frame includes bracket means, means for pivotally mounting Vsaid bracket means upon said support means, Wheel means rotatablyv supported by said bracket means in juxtaposition for engaging a. base surface, and means for pivotally moving said wheel means lwith respect to said support means,Y said last mentionedfmeans providing for the adjustable disposition of said Wheel means in base surface engaging relationship with respect to said support means, and providing the force for the guiding and tilting of said lever` 3. The combination as specilied in claim 2 including a secondguide means, meansr for pivotally securing said second guidemeans to said frame, said secondV guide f means-being vpositioned upon saiduframe for Vengagement v of a surface opposite that,v engaged by said wheel means, and means for` positioning said s'econd guide means in surface engaging relationship, said iirstiand second mentionediguide meansl cooperating to guidel saidv cutting A4.1"'I`he` combinaiton .as specified in claim l wherein iV said advancirigand retracting means includesguide bracket f Y means mountedrupon `said trarne and extending laterally outwardly from said trarne, said guide bracketfmeans Y including 'slideway means, anchor'means slidably mt'iuntedV Y. -Within saidV slideway means, and means interconnecting. `:fsaid anchor means and saidframe for, selectively ad-V Y' vancing and .retracting the anchormeans with respect to,V saidnframe i 5.-1n a continuous miner,.the combinationfof `basef means,|a longitudinally extending frame, pivot means piv- Y otallyinterconnecting said frame WithsaidL base means, cutting means mounted V upon said frame ande'xtending laterally Vto one 'sidethere'oi conveying' means mounted Y' upon said frame, said conveying means being positioned Withrespect lto said cutting means forreceipt and conveyingofmaterial from said cutting means and positioned for discharge of the material onto said base meanspa rst surface" engaging guide means mounted uponV said frame, l a'secoridsurface engaging guide means pivotally'rnounted `upon said frame, said second lmentioned guide means be- Yfing positioned upon;4 saidA frametor'engaging a surface opposite-thesuriace engaged bysaid first mentioned guide means, and nie'ansminterconnecting said rameand said of said second guide means withthe surface against which *n pass.

(l2 it abuts, said iirst and second mentioned guiderneanscooperating for the guiding of said continuous miner, and advancing and retracting means mounted upon said frame for moving said frame about said pivot means iu a guided relationship. f

in a continuous miner, the combination of base means, a longitudinally extending frame, pivot means pivotally interconnecting said frame with said base means, cutting means mounted upon said trarneV and extending laterally to one side thereof, said frame including a conveyor pan defining a channel extending substantially parallel to said frame and for substantially-the major length of said frame, said channel having an opening adjacent said cutting means that extends from said cutting means substantially parallel -to and for a minor length of'said frame, said channel havinga second opening remote from said cutting means for discharge onto said base'means, and conveying means mounted upon Vsaid frame. inV cooperative relationship With respect lto said conveyor pan for conveying material from said cutting means to said base means, a trimmerbar mounted upon said conveyor pan, adjacent said cutting means and ex-V tendant outwardly from said iirstfrnentioned opening, for removingmaterial adjacent said cutting means that may have been missed by said cutting means in a previous pass and aiding in the guiding ofmined material onto said convsecond trimmer bar is mounted upon said frame,r'ad

jacent said cutting meansandverticallyspaced-from said virst mentioned trimmer bar, for removing materialY adjacent said cutting means and opposite to the material acted upon by said lirst mentioned trimmer bar that may have' beenmissed by said cutting means in av previous- SVQIn a continuous miner, the combination of base means, a longitudinally extending frame, pivot'means pivotally interconnecting said frame with said base means,VV

A "cuttingmeans mounted upon said frame Vand extending Y means, a longitudinallylextending frame, pivot 'means pivotally interconnecting said frame with said base means, WVcutting means mounted uponssaidfframe and extending 'Withrespect 'to said cutting. means for receipt'iand consecond: guide means for .providing adjustable engagement laterally toone Vside thereof, conveyingmeans mounted upon said frame,rlsaid conveying means beingv positioned f with respect to said cutting means for receiptV a'nd conveying omaterial from said cutting means and positioned for discharge ot .the material onto said base means,` a-

second conveying'means positioned upon said base means for receipt of material from said first mentione'dfconveytion remote from theminer, transverse positioning means secured to said basemeans, saidtransverse positioning means ybeing secured to saidi'base means in juxtaposition ffor,V movement of saidl base 4means and said secondcon- 55 s second conveying means, said transverse positioning means including anchor means, and meansv interconnecting said veying means transversely to the loiigitudinal`axis of said anchor Ymeans and "said basefmeans for selectively ad- Y vancing and retracting said anchor means VWithrespect to said baserneans and for selectively advancing and retracting saidrbase means with respect to saidV anchor means, guide meanssecured to said frame, and advancing and retracting means mountedA upon said frame for moving Y said frame about said pivot means. j n V9. 1n a continuousrniner, the combination of base laterally to -oneuside thereof,1conveying means mounted upon Vsaid frame, said conveying means being positioned veying of material fromv said cutting means and .positioned for'discharge .ofthe material onto said base means, a

secondV conveying Ameans positionedv upon saidbase means s v :for'receipt o' material from said'l'irstrnenti'oned conveying means and transfer'ofthe received material tov a posi- 13 ing means and transfer of the received material to a position remote from the miner, advancing and retracting means secured to said base means for advancing and retracting said base means and said second conveying means lineally vyith respect tothe longitudinal axis of said second conveying means, said advancing andretracting means including anchor means and means interconnecting said anchor means and said base means for advancing and retracting said anchor means with respect to said base means and for advancing and retracting said base means with respect to said anchor means, transverse positioning means secured to said base means, said transverse positioning means being secured to said base means in juxtaposition for movement of said base means and said second conveying means transversely to the longitudinal axial of said second conveying means, said transverse positioning means including anchor means, and means interconnecting said anchor meansy for selectively advancing and retracting said anchor means with respect to said base means and for selectively advancing and retracting ysaid base means with respect to said anchor means, guide means secured to said frame, and advancing and retractingmeans mounted upon said frame for moving said frame about said pivot means.

10. In a continuous miner, the combinationof a base means, a longitudinally extending frame, pivot means pivotally interconnecting said frame with said base means, cutting means mounted upon said frame and extending laterally to one side thereof, conveying means mounted upon said frame, said conveying means being positioned with respect -to said cutting means for receiving and conveying of material from said cutting means and positioned for discharge of the material onto said base means, a

second conveying means positioned upon said base means for receipt ot material from said rst mentioned conveying means and transfer of the received material to a posi-tion remote from the miner, guide means secured to said frame, andy advancing and retracting means mounted upon said frame for moving said frame about said pivot means, said base means including a bafe, means for pivotally mounting said baiiie with respect to said base means, said baie comprising a plate extending about a portion of said base means and vertically upwardly from said base means adjacent the point of discharge of said Vfirst conveying means onto said base means, and means for pivotally moving said baie away from said base means as said frame approaches said battle in pivoting movement about said pivot means.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,478,289 12/23 Holmsted. V1,493,701 5/24 Quaas.

1,638,447 8/27 Levin.

2,692,130 10/54 Ruth.

2,761,666 9/56 Heimaster et al. 2,777,681 1/57 Ball. 2,833,531 5/58 Joy. 2,916,274 12/ 59 Haworth et al. 2,933,294 4/60` Meehan 3,053 455 A9/62 cLauglilin et al.

EENiAMrN HEnsH, prima@ Examiner. 

1. IN A CONTINUOUS MINER MOUNTED ON SUPPORTING MEANS, THE COMBINATION OF BASE MEANS, A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FRAME, PIVOT MEANS PIVOTALLY INTERCONNECTING SAID FRAME WITH SAID BASE MEANS, CUTTING MEANS MOUNTED UPON SAID FRAME AND EXTENDING LATERALLY TO ONE SIDE THEREOF, CONVEYING MEANS MOUNTED UPON SAID FRAME, SAID CONVEYING MEANS BEING POSITIONED WITH RESPECT TO SAID CUTTING MEANS FOR RECEIPT AND CONVEYING OF MATERIAL FROM SAID CUTTING MEANS AND POSITIONED FOR DISCHARGE OF THE MATERIAL ONTO SAID BASE MEANS, GUIDE MEANS SECURED TO SAID FRAME, SAID GUIDE MEANS INCLUDING SUPPORT MEANS EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM SAID FRAME AT THE SIDE THEREOF OPPOSITE TO SAID CUTTING MEANS, SAID FRAME, SUPPORT MEANS AND CUTTING MEANS COMPRISING A LEVER AND THE MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID MINER COMPRISING A FULCRUM FOR SAID LEVER, SAID FRAME ABUTTING THE FULCRUM OF SAID LEVER, SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND SAID CUTTING MEANS CONSTITUTING ARMS OF SAID LEVER EXTENDING TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID FRAME, SAID GUIDE MEANS INCLUDING MEANS SECURED TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS ADJACENT THE END THEREOF LATERALLY EXTENDANT FROM SAID FRAME FOR THE APPLICATION OF A FORCE ADJACENT THE END OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS LATERALLY EXTENDANT FROM SAID FRAME, THE FORCE OF SAID MEANS BEING APPLICABLE FOR THE GUIDING AND TILTING OF SAID LEVER ABOUT ITS FULCRUM, AND ADVANCING AND RETRACTING MEANS MOUNTED UPON SAID FRAME FOR MOVING SAID FRAME ABOUT SAID PIVOT MEANS. 